| Claremont Colleges, CA
Pools were posted on a previous post, so I'll jump right into the action.
We came into the tournament as the 7th seed, ranked 2nd in our pool that included #2 Black Tide, Azusa Pacific, and Cal State Fullerton. If any of you guys have been following our team, we have been underachieving all season, suffering tough losses to the likes of CSU Long Beach and SDSU. Sectionals was where we wanted to prove to the section that we weren't just "another" team but a team that can hang with any other.
Conveniently enough, a heat wave swung through Southern California this past weekend. Saturday's forecast called for sunny skies and 84+ degree heat. The problem begin that there absolutely no wind and little shade near the field. The Claremont fields were scattered within a square mile, but overall, were probably the best fields I've played on all year. Springy, short grass, with no potholes or unmarked obstacles like our fields here at Irvine. Our pool was blessed with a first round bye, meaning games started at 10:15am, and it was literally our team's birthday as we were given a second round bye as well, with our first game starting at 11:50am.
SATURDAY
Game 1 vs. Azusa Pacific
We started this game out on a great note. We had played this team several times in the past years and we had beaten them consecutively for the past 2 years. We built a steady lead with solid play from our main handlers. Of note was the debut of our team's break mark cuts and break mark throws. We finally had our offense clicking as the handlers were able to work the up line cuts, dishies and break mark throws for a solid lead. However after taking half, APU threw a zone defense and it proved to be effective as our handlers began making mistakes and poor decisions. APU never forced any turns but merely made our offense uncomfortable to the point that we tightened up and gave away the disc. They ran a standard 3-3-1 zone and with little wind, there was no excuse for allowing their team to catch up. Of note was great deep play from rookie Phil and veteran Max.Solid play from Fish and Stig as well.
10-8 Irvine
Game 2 vs. Cal State Fullerton
The game vs. APU warmed us up and we came out and steam rolled Fullerton. They had maybe one or two handlers, and we took this game to give our rookies and newer players playing time and also to rest our veterans. I know for a fact that at least with all the veterans, our minds were already past this game and on game 3 which was against the #2 seeded Black Tide. We finished up the Fullerton game a little bit before soft cap and retreated to the shade as peak heat hit the Claremont Area.
13-0 Irvine
Game 3 vs. UCSB Black Tide
We were ready for this game. Although the previous game was pretty easy, we knew that we would need to up our intensity if we wanted to hang with the #2 seed in the tournament in Black Tide. The first point of the game was very sloppy. There were atleast 2 or 3 turns by each team and Black Tide converted for the first break of the game. On the second point, our offense began to click as we were able to move it up the field with great efficiency and speed. The result was a 20 yard flick huck to the streaking captain Allen for the score. 1-1. From then on, we traded points and I believe when it was at 5's, our D line was successful in getting the disc back and scoring for the upwind break. 6-5 Irvine. We had several opportunities to take half, but were unsuccessful as Tide converted and tied it up, and after a rookie mistake on our own line, Tide took half 7-5. We were not done. We were able to get the break after half and Tide tried out their zone defense on several occassions but it was broken by our quick flow up line and outside ins to the deeps. Of note was a beautiful hammer by Max for the score. Back and forth, back and forth, we traded point for point. #18 on Tide (jeff) was their main deep threat and he had our number all game. He repeatedly burned every defender we put on him and proved to be the difference as Tide broke back and eventually they won on soft cap 10-8.
Some highlights of this game included Allen getting a sick layout D at stall 9 on the dump, only to be lay out d'd in return by Jeff at shoulder height. Great defensive play. We had solid play from our offensive line of Roeder, Miller, Box, Khosh, Phil, Stig, and Max who were able to score consistently and efficiently. D-line of Allen, Hammy, KG, D-rock, Steve, Yang, and Fish constantly pressured the tide offense and got some poach D's and forced turns. Stuff that we needed to work on included force protection, prevention of deep game, as well as disc value and decision making.
Despite the loss, we really showed ourselves what our team was capable of. We had scared them. Their body language showed us that they did not expect a fight from us. Tide had only given up 4 points in 3 games previous to this one and when they realized that we could fight toe-to-toe with them, they brought out their veterans and big guns. Props to Tide. Their spirit has gotten a lot better and they were a very enjoyable team to play against. Several questionable calls but hey, it was a tightly contested game that was awesome to watch, let alone to play in.
Tide wins 10-8 (soft cap)
Game 4 vs. Cal Poly SLO-B
After taking a long bye (1.5 hours) to change fields, we pretty much let this game play out between their team and our rookies. Our vets deserved a rest and this game showcased our rookie talents as well as great play from our grad students. Of note was our solid wall defense as well as Fish, Yang, and Thundercat stepping up on Offense. We ended the day at a record of 3-1, with bracket play starting the next day. Team dinner at Hokkaido (all you can eat goodness).
Irvine wins 13-2
SUNDAY
Game 1 vs. Cal Poly SLO
We had never beaten this team before and we came into this game hoping for the best. With a 9:00 start time, the weather was a bit cooler but was still hovering in the low 80's as the first pull went up. We started on offense and gave the break right away on some errant hucks and throws. SLO went up 3-1 before we could even recover and get our offense clicking. SLO ran a standard H-stack with 3 handlers across, the same formation we were accustomed to running and defending against. The main difference lay in the fact that they heavily, and i mean heavily relied on their deep game. The first points scored by SLO were all on either great deep puts to their cutters or swilly 50/50's that were snared by their taller players. Our offense worked it up short and we were able to continue moving the disc up but SLO took half at 8-6. We regrouped at half but SLO continued to bust out the deep game to take a 10-6 lead. We were in trouble and we knew it. So we threw our modified wall defense, to stop the deep game and little by little, it began to work. SLO didn't have solid handlers throughout and relied heavily on a core of 3 or 4 guys to handle the disc. With the deep game shut down, they had to work it up short and that was where we generated turns and converted for scores. We were successful in clawing our way back into the game, tying the game at 11's. Again we were successful in generating the break and took the score to 13-12 as the cap came on. We were pulling to SLO and they needed to score to force universe. They continued to work it up short, and we got lucky when an upline throw was mishandled and dropped. We gave it right back to them on an errant throw by Hammy but were again lucky to get the D once again. This time we transitioned right off the dropped disc by one of their handlers and Miller transitioned deep. Roeder threw a high lofty huck and Miller ran it down, uncontested in the end zone for the score.
Irvine wins 14-12
Game 2 vs. UCLA
Our upset of SLO won us a date with UCLA, who had previously just lost to Claremont. UCLA was a very balanced team with a great deep game, lots of handlers, and experienced players. We had to move fields for this game and had very little time to warm up and get ready mentally and it showed as UCLA simply ran their deep game for a 8-2 lead at half. It took no time at all and I remember during the huddle, everyone was wondering what the heck just happened. UCLA pretty much just blitzed us and we had little offense to show for it. Allen and Khosh did a very good job at captaining and assured us that all we needed to do was clean up our offense and we would be okay. We responded pretty well at half with our defensive line making a lot of stops and converting on the turn. We had very little success hucking the disc deep as they had argueably the #2 deep in the section (Fozzy) grabbing everything that went deep. We resorted to short throws, and despite several miscues on the handlers, we were able to make it a respectable game, outscoring UCLA 7-5 in the second half. It was not an excuse for losing, but we were unable to get any breaks on 50-50's, broken plays, or just with the wind. It was a well played game and it taught us alot about how to adjust to different offenses and styles of play. Props to Stig running hard cuts and chasing ever disc down while everyone else chilled in the stack, and the trio handler tandem of Roeder, Miller, and D-train working the disc up on offense cleanly. Problems I saw was continued breaking of our force and the ability for the opposing handlers to work the disc up the field without any problems. Sorry but I just have to add this, props to allen for running the "Hammy Special Cut" for a 40 yard hammer score. Pretty stuff.
13-9 UCLA
Game 3 vs. UCSD
We then got to play Squid-ice of UCSD. We knew out of Tide, UCLA, and UCSD, these guys would be the most likely for us to upset. Right off the bat, we were successful in working the disc up the field against Squid's somewhat hole-filled man defense. We were also able to generate D's off of our modified wall, with Squids either throwing easy passes away and or us getting the 50/50's out of the air. We took a pretty good lead and eventually took half 8-4. The first time we had ever taken half on UCSD. Half time came and we knew that Squids would throw their zone defense. Squids are known for their suffocating zones and clams. At half, squids threw their zone and to our amazement, it did not deter our momentum. Our ratchet handler, Scott Roeder was able to thread the holes in the otherwise huge cup and the wings were able to keep the disc moving for easy scores. However; UCSD was a good team and they made an adjustment and threw clam. This proved to be our downfall as it was a defense none of us had previously faced and we were honestly puzzled and unsuccessful at breaking through it. UCSD was able to regain momentum and recapture the lead and were leading 11-9 with minutes before hard-cap. They called time-out and by then we knew it was over. They were stalling time and sure enough before the point had started, hard-cap blew and we knew the game was lost. However we were able to move the disc up and score the last point to make it 10-11.
It was a pretty hard loss for our team. We had squandered a sizeable lead and were unable to work as a team to break through the clam defense. I am sure that during practice this week, we will review that game and discuss the most efficient and effective way to work through it. The loss was a difficult one as we knew that we again would have to play Cal Poly SLO for the 6th/7th game. It had been peak heat for the past 2 games (mid-90's) and the majority of our team were dehydrated, cramping, or utterly exhausted. Yet we took what we learned from the squid game and were ready to play SLO one more time.
11-10 UCSD (Hard Cap)
Game 4 vs. Cal Poly SLO
So our route after the first game playing SLO went #5 UCLA, and #3 UCSD. SLO's route went through #9 USD, and #8 CSU Long Beach. So obviously, we had a much harder route to where we were. We lost 2 in a row, SLO won 2 in a row. Go figure. That aside, both teams played a very good game atleast in the first half, with SLO much more effective in working it short than previously before. They still utilized their deep game and for most of them, were unable to generate D's or prevent the hucks. It was a frustrating game as many of our players found themselves struggling to keep up on defense and converting on offense. Playing UCLA and UCSD to soft caps was tiring enough, trying to play one more game at 2:15 in the afternoon in 95 degree heat was simply exhausting. By then our water supply was running low and we were all hungry for something other than bagels and bananas. Props to the team for sticking with the game, not giving up and fighting hard throughout it, even though were were down several breaks to a less exhuasted team who wanted nothing more than to get their seed back from us. They had great play from their Captain (bacon) and seemed to want the game a lot more than we did. We didn't desire to win, and that has something that has plagued our team for a long time. It seemed as if we were happy enough with making regionals and that was that. That mentality needs to go if we are to be one of the section's truly elite teams.
SLO wins 15-9
Overall, we held seed at #7, but really succeeded in showing that we could hang with the top teams in our section. We played all the top seeds except for Claremont, and our biggest loss was against #5 UCLA 13-9, and our largest loss of the day was to SLO 15-9. I'm proud of every single one of our players and honestly, every moment of this tournament I could sense our team coming together, really believing that we could take it to the #1 seeds. If a sense we did. We made them work to beat us. In the past we were known to just collapse and throw away games against the top seeds but not this year. As we go into regionals in San Diego, our confidence level as a team is at a good level. We have our identity back again and we know what we can accomplish if we really want it.
Allen, great job leading this team and keeping us composed mentally and emotionally throughout the entire day. Roeder, sick sick throws... that's all I can say. Miller, keep on creating mismatches on offense. No one can keep up with you on your dishes. Khosh, you are a monster and our offense really does flow through you. Way to call yourself in as well. Box, catch with your hands, not your face, and thanks for preventing a sure callahan at the cost of my face. Max and Josh E, the grad students proved to us that they can freaking tear it up. Great job on the deeps. Fish, keep on throwing, keep on practicing, you've got so much potential as a handler and a cutter. Thanks for cleaning up the garbage. KG, you are one intense bad ass mofo. Keep it up. D-rock, hot cutting, hot D, and new cleats please. Yang, the best i've seen you play yet. Gratuitous pancake lay out for the score? You bet! Thundercat- keep playing consistently, you're getting better every point you play. D-train, i don't think you turned the disc once. Amazing, I wanna be like you. Stig, sexy play, you really make us vets proud. Steve, i like how you made adjustments to keep on contributing. When your offense was off, you stepped up on D. Great Play overall. Jerry... go see a doctor. Please. That is all.
-Till Southwest Regionals,
hammy #10
UC Irvine Ultimate
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